Seven years ago, a few motivated Highland School students founded the Upper School robotics team, Team RoboHawk, to foster their interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields.

Today, the team boasts over forty active members. Our team is divided into two subgroups: the business team is in charge of all the marketing efforts including the website and raising over $30,000 each year while the build team produces a robot that meet the year’s challenges.

Member of nationally-recognized FIRST® programTeam RoboHawk is a member of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), whose mission is “to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication and leadership.

Each January, FIRST unveils a new challenge, such as shooting basketballs into a hoop and balancing on a seesaw, or in the latest competition, which had a medieval theme, the robots were required to breach different defenses, throw boulders and climb towers.

Students work directly with professional mentorsOur robotics program provides students with the unique opportunity to work with professionals in the STEM fields. The collaboration among students and mentors creates an environment that simulates real-world engineering. Along with learning how to apply themselves in the world of science and technology, students on Team RoboHawk learn how to problem-solve and work with others to achieve a common goal.